Entertainment
Gayle King sparks sexism row after questioning why Princess Anne was in Prince Philip’s funeral procession
Journalist Gayle King had found herself at the center of a sexism row after she questioned why Princess Anne – the Queen and Prince Philip’s second child and only daughter – was part of the procession at Prince Philip’s funeral.
The emotional funeral over the weekend saw all of the late Duke of Edinburgh’s children and some of his grandchildren walking behind his coffin before the ceremony.
CBS’ This Morning anchor Gayle King was leading coverage of the funeral in the US on Saturday when she asked about Princess Anne’s part in the procession.
The 66-year-old raised eyebrows when she asked Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown why the Princess Royal was the only female to join the procession which saw the late Duke’s coffin take a lap on the grounds of Windsor.
One unimpressed viewer tweeted: ‘If I were Princess Anne, I would sue Gayle King for being a sexist.’
Another tweeted: ‘Gayle asked Tina Brown why Anne was in the funeral procession with the men? Uh, Princess Anne is Prince Philip’s only daughter!’
One wrote: ‘I don’t see why she was surprised. Princess Anne even walked for the Queen Mother funeral procession.
‘And I find it disrespectful of her to even question. Princess Anne was his only daughter. Of course she was going to do that.’
It is usually tradition for only men to follow the casket during a royal funeral procession, however Anne has previously taken part in one in recent past.
Indeed, the Princess Royal walked behind her grandmother, the Queen Mother at her funeral in 2002.
Saturday’s funeral saw Anne take pride of place next to Prince Charles at the front of the procession for her late father – as one of Philip’s beloved four children and the second eldest.
The Duke’s youngest sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward then followed in a procession order that was decided by the Queen.
The procession also saw Prince Harry separated from his brother Prince William by Anne’s son Peter Phillips.
Gayle is famously a close friend on Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, and has been speaking out about the couple’s relationship with the rest of the royal family following their bombshell interview with her best friend Oprah Winfrey.
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